We spent Saturday at The Villages Charter as they hosted the Iverson Classic Blackout. With multiple games running concurrently on three different courts, there was always quality basketball available to watch. We spent our day posted up in the main gym watching several teams from across the state.
Game One: Gainesville The Rock School vs. SLZB Berlin (Germany)
Yes, you read that correctly. SLZB came from Europe to experience the American style of play. The group came in with plenty of size, but The Rock quickly let our German friends know they were in for a long day. The Rock used its speed and quickness to get easy scores off turnovers and led 17-5 after the first four minutes. After at SLZB timeout, they played evenly but were down 26-14 after the first quarter. The Rock nearly doubled that lead going into the break, upping the margin to 49-27.
The Rock pretty much put the game on cruise control in the second half. SLZB just couldn’t get anything going offensively. The Rock got several easy scores in transition and was effective in limiting SLZB’s shots from the perimeter. The Rock’s winning score of 89-62 gives an indication of how dominant the team was this day.
The Rock’s 6’1 freshman, Zaire Colbert, led the team with 20 points. DeAndre Harvey, a 6’5 senior had 18 points. Joseph Hartman, a 6’5 senior and Michigan recruit, added 12 points while Jacob Pleyer, a 6’3 senior, tossed in 10 points.
For SZLB, 6’4 senior Matheo M’Vondo drained five three-pointers for 15 points. Lukas Clive, a 6’10 senior, added 10 points.
Game Two: Orlando West Oaks vs. The New School (Arkansas)
This game featured a matchup of independent powers that are Grind Session regulars. Both teams were slow out of the gate with West Oaks leading just 6-2 four minutes in. West Oaks was the first to find its offensive rhythm, building a 19-8 lead heading into the second quarter. New School started finding the range and were within a single point, 22-21, with 3:30 left until the break. When the horn sounded at the end of the period, the game was all tied at 30-30.
West Oaks got on top first in the third period. They led 41-37 midway thru the quarter but heading into the final period of play, clung to a small 47-46 advantage. With four minutes remaining in regulation the game was tied at 55-55. The New School took a brief lead at the one-minute mark, but a steal and score by West Oaks put them up 59-58. An empty trip by New School forced them to foul to stop the clock. West Oaks hit both to go up by three. The New School quickly got down the court and drew a foul. However, it could only hit one of two and with fourteen seconds left it was down 61-59. Once again, The New School fouled to stop the clock. West Oaks only hit one of two with ten seconds left. The New School still had life and got a good look at a three to tie the game just before the horn sounded. It was just off target and West Oaks walked away with a tough 62-59 win.
West Oaks was led by 6’7 senior Ibrahim Basima with 14 points. Both Terrell James, a 6’0 senior and Antonio Baymon, a 6’2 junior, contributed 12 points while 6’2 senior Jayden Williams scored 10 points.
For The New School, 6’7 Aiden Chronister, a Missouri signee, scored 16 points. Anthony Angela, a 6’7 senior, led the way with 17 points.
Game Three: Oviedo HS vs. Deltona Pine Ridge
“Traditional” high schools took center stage. Early on the teams exchanged leads and midway thru the first period it was Pine Ridge that had the upper-hand, 7-6. From there, the Lions of Oviedo took over, finishing the period with a 12-0 run to lead 18-7. That type of scoring prowess continued in the second quarter as Oviedo rapidly increased its lead. Heading into the break, Oviedo led comfortably, 46-25.
Pine Ridge was able to make some adjustments at the half and owned the third quarter. They cut their deficit nearly in half, to 54-43, with one period remaining. The Lions were able to regroup and in the fourth quarter found ways to keep Pine Ridge from getting any closer. Oviedo extended its lead late in the final period to win by the score of 72-57.
Carter Oden, a 6’1 junior, led Oviedo with 25 points. Azariah Critton, a 6’2 junior, added 14 points. Aiden Demeglio, a 6’4 senior, added 13 points while 6’7 senior Xander Bluhm, tallied 11 points.
For Pine Ridge, 6’8 junior Henry Robinson scored 23 points. Marrick Savitz, a 6’3 sophomore, put up 13 points and 6’5 senior Wilmer Delarosa finished with 12 points.
Game Four: Windermere HS vs. Miami SLAM
Early on, this looked like it would be a long day for Windermere. SLAM got out to an early lead and by the end of the first quarter was up double-digits 22-11. Challenged by the coaching staff to play up to their capabilities, the Wolverines clawed back into the game in the second quarter, down just six, 34-28, at the break.
Windermere made it a new game by the midway point of the third quarter, tying the game at 39-39. They grabbed a 41-40 lead a few seconds later. However, heading into the fourth period, after some chippy play on both sides, SLAM regained the lead at 55-53. The final period would be a back-and-forth affair. Windermere led by a point, 66-65, with four minutes remaining. SLAM tied the game back up at 70-70 with 1:30 left in regulation. Windermere dropped in two free throws after being fouled in transition to take a 72-70 lead with 1:07 on the clock. SLAM was able to tie that score after a putback with forty-eight seconds left. Neither team was able to score before the end of regulation, and we headed to OT tied at 72-72.
SLAM was the first to gain some separation in the extra period, grabbing a 78-74 lead. Oviedo got within one after a three-point play, but SLAM scored the last six points in the contest to win 84-77.
Josiah Brooks, a 6’3 freshman, led SLAM with 30 points. Tony Guerrero, a 6’0 senior added 18 points while 5’9 senior Dario Haro contributed 13 points.
For Windermere, Ben Bunnell, a 6’4 senior, led all scorers with 32 points. Bryce Hoffert, a 6’5 junior, put up 21 points while 6’4 sophomore Kaiden King finished with 17 points.
Game Five: Hialeah Mater Lakes vs. Poinciana BCAT Academy
BCAT plays in the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association’s Regional Division, one notch below its National Division. Mater Lakes held an 8-7 lead four minutes in, but then BCA went on a 7-0 run and led 16-12 after one period. Mater Lakes opened the second quarter with a 7-2 run to grab the lead and led 24-20 at the half.
The Bears of Mater Lakes held an eight-point margin midway thru the third at 44-36. BCAT responded with a 12-2 run to take a two-point, 48-46, lead into the final quarter. BCAT continued to maintain a margin in the fourth, leading 54-51 with four minutes remaining. Mater Lakes was able to regroup and held a 61-60 lead with under a minute to play. BCAT was able to tie the game at the foul line, then force a turnover on Mater Lakes next possession. BCAT was unable to score on its final possession in regulation and so for the second game in a row we headed to overtime with the score tied at 61-61.
BCAT got on top first in the extra session, but Mater Lakes was able to tie the score at 65-65 with under two minutes to play. BCAT scored in transition and then after a missed three by Mater Lakes, scored inside to take a two-possession lead at 69-65. Mater Lakes hit a three on its next possession but there were only 1.5 seconds left on the clock. The Bears fouled right away. BCAT made the first but missed the second. Mater Lakes’ full-court heave was shot and BCAT scores a big upset by winning 70-68.
BCAT was led by 6’5 sophomore Alex Fuentes with 21 points. Jordan Rivera, a 5’6 sophomore, tossed in 15 points while 6’7 sophomore Caleb Gbadelan added 14 points and 6’6 sophomore Leandro Liburd contributed 10 points.
Mater Lakes was led by 6’3 sophomore Tai Bell with 29 points. Khanye Moss, a 6’1 senior, tallied 19 points.
Game Six: The Villages Charter vs. Coral Gables Coral Glades
One of the marquee matchups of the day, both teams are deep with size and talent. Given that, it was a bit of a surprise that the score was only 6-2 in favor of Coral Glades after the first four minutes. From there, Coral Glades took off, outscoring The Villages 10-4 to lead by ten, 16-6, going into the second period. It didn’t get any better for The Villages in the second period. Some lethargic play on their part allowed Coral Glades to increase its lead through the quarter and take a 33-19 advantage into the break.
The Villages finally seemed motivated in the third quarter. They extended their defensive pressure, sometimes full-court and other times just across half-court. This stopped Coral Glades’ momentum and The Villages crept back into the contest. Down 49-37 heading into the final period, it looked like The Villages had a chance. With five minutes remaining in the game, Coral Glades called a timeout with its lead shrunk to six at 55-49. The Villages continues its spirited play and with one minute left was down just one possession, 57-54. Coral Glades nearly gave the game away, missing two free throws to increase their lead and turning the ball over after a Villages miss. The Villages had two separate chances to send a third game of the day into overtime but could not convert. Coral Glades nearly let this one get away but held on to a 57-54 win.
Coral Glades was led by 6’4 junior Donovan Swain who scored 17 points. Gavin Reed, a 6’0 junior, added 14 points as did Kyler Theophile, a 6’5 senior and Kennesaw State commit.
Jomar Bernard, a 6’6 junior, led The Villages with 15 points. Aaron Britt, a 6’1 junior, added 13 points.
Game Seven: Orlando The Academy of Central Florida vs. Daytona Beach DME Academy
A pair of Sunshine Independent Athletic Associaion (SIAA) powers, this game was played under SIAA rules which meant nine-minute quarters and a thirty-second shot clock. As expected, the pace was fast with each team playing with intensity at both ends of the floor. ACF led 12-10 midway thru the first quarter but after one period it was DME that led 15-14. The back-and-forth continued in the second and the score was tied at 27-27 with four minutes left in the half. DME was able to go on a 9-3 run to close the period out and lead 36-30 at the break.
DME continued its strong play in the third quarter, outscoring ACF 16-7 over the first five minutes to lead 52-37. ACF was able to reduce the deficit to 58-47 heading into the final period. DME regrouped and pushed its lead to fifteen, 70-55, with just three minutes remaining. They would go on to win by the score of 79-67.
DME’s Ryan Hampton, a 6’7 junior and considered a top five player nationally in the Class of 2027, led all scorers with 30 points. Yohane Kabongo, a 6’9 junior, added 18 points while Nathan Kirk, a 6’1 senior, tallied 13 points.
For The Academy of Central Florida, Martay Barnes, a 6’3 junior, led the team with 15 points while 6’5 senior Adrian Cordobba dropped in 10 points.